Kitchen fire displaces family of three in West Tampa

TAMPA — A kitchen fire did tens of thousands of dollars in damage Monday to a West Tampa home and displaced a family of three.

Tampa Fire Rescue said it was called at 1:41 p.m. to 5128 N Jamaica St., which is just south of Hillsborough Avenue and several blocks east of Al Lopez Park. The first fire crew was on the scene within three minutes. It took about five minutes to get the fire under control.

Cynthia Pena, 38, was at home cooking when the fire began, authorities said. Her 16-year-old son was in a back bedroom but her 18-year-old daughter, who also lives there, was not at home. Pena and her son managed to get themselves and five pets — two small dogs, two large dogs and an iguana — out of the house before firefighters arrived. No one was hurt.

Fire officials said the fire was contained to the kitchen, and investigators determined it was an accident. The Red Cross is helping the family.